UCLA Women’s Volleyball Faces Utah Valley in First of Three In Hawai’i

This evening, the UCLA women’s volleyball team is in Hawai’i for their first match in the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Volleyball Challenge. The Bruins’ first match will be against the 2-5 Utah Valley Wolverines.

Last Time Out

On Saturday, UCLA swept the Long Beach State 49ers, 31-29, 27-25, 27-25. It was a hard-fought match, but, despite that, the Bruins still managed the sweep.

The first set was a back-and-forth battle. The 49ers took an early 7-4 lead, but the Bruins responded with a 4-1 run to tie it at 8-8. After Long Beach State scored to make it 9-8, UCLA went on another 4-1 run to take a 12-10 lead. The teams split the next twelve points and the 49ers scored the next two after that to tie the set, 18-18. A 5-1 UCLA run gave the Bruins a 23-19 lead, but a 5-1 run by LBSU tied the set, 24-24. The Bruins couldn’t close the set on their first two set points, but neither could the 49ers on three set points. Mac May gave UCLA the team’s third set point at 30-29 and a Long Beach State attack error ended the set with a 31-29 Bruins win.

The teams battled it out early in set two. Despite that, UCLA had a one-point lead at 6-5, but a 5-0 run by Long Beach State put the 49ers back on top. Long Beach still led by four at 19-15. An 8-0 UCLA run put the Bruins back in front, but Long Beach State came back to tie with a 4-0 run of their own. UCLA had a hard time closing the set, however, as Long Beach State fought off two set points to make it, 25-25. Finally, the Bruins pieced together a pair of kills from Emily Ryan and Savvy Simo to close it out, 27-25.

The third set was another battle. It was tied at 1-1, 6-6 and 8-8. At that point, UCLA rattled off three straight points and the Bruins stretched their lead to five points at 18-13. A 4-0 run brought the 49ers to within a point and they tied it at 21-21. The Bruins took three of the next four points to go ahead 24-22, but a 3-0 mini-run by LBSU gave the Niners their first set point of this set, 25-24. A Long Beach service error tied it while Mac May put the Bruins ahead 26-25. A Long Beach attack error ended the set and the match.

Mac May led UCLA with 14 kills while Savvy Simo added 13 more. Hawley Harrer had 21 assists and Devon Chang finished with 20 assists. Kelli Barry led the Bruins with 20 digs and Simo had 14.

Utah Valley Wolverines

The season is off to a rough start for Utah Valley. The Wolverines have lost five of their seven matches including three matches to #9 BYU, #16 Marquette, and #19 Utah. They have also lost to Boise State and Idaho State. Meanwhile, they earned their only two wins last weekend against Portland State and UC Davis.

Outlook

This one shouldn’t be in doubt. Look for another Bruin sweep tonight.

This is your UCLA vs. Utah Valley women’s volleyball open thread.


Go Bruins!!